Page 43 of Dopplebanger

“You’d like one better with me by your side, though, right?” If anyone was being selfish tonight, it was me.

She pursed her lips and tilted her head. Then she glanced around before looking back at me. “Was it meeting my parents? Does it feel like we’re moving too fast?”

No, it didn’t, and that was almost scarier than the other option. I wanted to reach for her so fucking bad, but I kept my hands in fists at my side. “It’s a lot of things.”

“Great. Now that you’ve explained, I feel so much better.” She renewed her clipped pace toward the crowd of dressed-up people filing into chairs, and I stretched out my arm and caught her arm, just above her elbow. I pulled harder than I meant to, and she wobbled in her heels. On reflex, I wrapped my free arm around her waist to keep her steady, bringing her back flush against my chest.

“Sorry,” I said in her ear, my heart mimicking a battering ram with her this close. Clearly it wanted to leave me behind and go with her.

A shuttered breath spilled from Gwen’s lips, but without facial cues to go off, I couldn’t tell if it was desire or anger. “For the tripping, or for being so cryptic?”

“Yes,” I said with a chuckle. It’d slipped out, and fire blazed through her eyes as she glanced over her shoulder at me. “Sorry.” Apologizing only seemed to fuel her anger. “What I mean is, let’s get through this wedding. I guess I’ve just been thinking more about my future.”And how much I want it to include you.“But I’m here now. From right now till the end of this shindig, I’ll be the perfect attentive boyfriend. I promise.”

Each second that ticked by added another layer of panic. I’d already screwed it up. It was over before I got my last kiss.Damn, I wished I’d known it’d been my last.

With a sigh, Gwen finally melted into my embrace, and relief flooded my body, along with a healthy dose of desire—the ass I’d been admiring was pressed against my crotch and I really shouldn’t think about that right now.

“Oh, shit, there they are.” Gwen spun to face me, her hands gripping the lapels of my suit coat. “I told myself I’d be okay, but I think I’m having a heart attack. My heart’s definitely beating too hard and my knees are shaky and do you remember how I said I wanted an-all expenses paid brain vacation? Why didn’t I do a shot before we?—”

I cut off her rambling with a kiss, and like that first morning, the instant our mouths touched, heat flooded my veins. Every other thought besides her lips, her body, and all things Gwen were incinerated as the kiss blazed through me.

Her whimper spurred me on, and I slid my fingers into her hair and gave her fiery strands a slight tug so I could tip her head back and plunge my tongue in to tangle with hers.

When we came up for air, our chests were rising and falling together, our ragged breaths filling the space between us.

“Damn.” She reached up and touched her lower lip with a glazed-over look that made me want to throw her over my shoulder and carry her away, caveman style. “I was kinda worried we wouldn’t get any more of those.”

Now I wanted to kick my own ass. Forget the broody routine. From this moment on, I’d keep my promise to be the guy she needed for the wedding. “Oh, there are going to be more of those. I messed around and got addicted, so…”

A dimple popped in her cheek. “Did you just quote Juicy J?”

“I thought it was Katy Perry,” I said.

“That’s the Juicy J part, though.”

“Whatever.” I shook my head. “I hope you’re happy now. Clearly, your playlists have ruined me.”

She clapped. “I plan to ruin you even more on the ride home.”

My mind made sure to turn that nice and dirty, and I wanted to do some ruining of my own. I was starting to suspect she’d already ruined me. I’d never be able to settle for anyone else now.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of the people who’d been making their way toward us. Their dropped-jaw expressions made it clear they’d seen the show, but the female half of the couple recovered with a forced smile.

“Gwen! There you are!” A blonde in a dark-blue dress came over, a guy in a tux trailing behind her like he was being guided to the guillotine.

“Hey, Paige,” Gwen said, then she gave a little nod. “Kyle.”

Dumbass Ex’s gaze raked down her, and I wrapped a possessive arm around her waist, tucking her next to me. Screw him for hurting her and taking her for granted, and screw my brother, too. This girl was mine.

“This is Evan,” she said, placing her hand on my chest.

I covered it with mine. “Her boyfriend.” I knew I should probably add “nice to meet you” but I’d done enough lying this trip.

“I’m so glad you ended up coming,” Paige said. She cast a nervous glance at Kyle, then nudged him.

“Yeah, it’s good to see you.” His eyes lingered a few seconds too long, doing a sweep that made me clench my fist. “You look good.”

Asshole.As hard as Paige was trying, she’d flinched as he’d said it, too. I tightened my grip on Gwen. “Well, we better take our seats.”

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